Gamertag: RODSMACK 10k
Super Hero: Hellboy
Film: Waiting
TV show: Entourage
Album: Opiate by TOOL
Cartoon character: Ren
Xbox Live game: Ghost Recon
Offline Xbox game: Jet Set Radio Future

Gamer Spotlight:

TriXie Interviews RODSMACK 10k

He’s a manager and bartender in Jacksonville Florida, who’s been on Xbox Live since the beginning. He’s also the founder of the xbl10kclub. Say hello to RODSMACK 10k.

TriXie: What’s the story behind your gamertag?

RODSMACK 10k: As sad is it may be, this is my nickname in real life (without the 10k obviously). People in the bar I work in dubbed me this when the band Godsmack came out. I like the band and all, but RODSMACK? That's the best they could do? The 10k I added to show my respect and gratitude to the guys who have helped me make the xbl10kclub what it is today. Adding the 10k was an easy decision, but hard to make since I have had the same gamertag since the launch of Xbox Live. I always enjoy going to my recent players list and reading the gamertags. There's always at least one that makes me laugh.

TriXie: Tell us a little about the 10kclub... give us a little history and some quick stats please.. .

RODSMACK 10k: The Xbox Live 10k Club is an organization that was created by real life and online friends for mature gamers who enjoy playing for achievements. We established ourselves on March 31st of 2006 as a "club" due to the fact we do not follow the normal "clan" type characteristics. We take extreme pride in being one of the first Xbox 360 Live Clubs. Our club is known in the 360 community for: fun, competitive, rewarding, and an overall enjoyable gaming experience. Our website is www.xbl10kclub.com. We encourage everyone to browse our website thoroughly, and feel free to post in our forums! These guys have put together some very useful information for all XBOX 360 gamers. The Xbox Live 10k Club promotes unity in the gaming community. Our goal is to promote an enjoyable online gaming experience, and we hope to bring back a little of the "old-school" feel of "Hi-Score" to the gaming community. Got game? Want to be part of something "BIG"? The Xbox Live 10k Club achievement unlocked! We have acquired 32 members/friends in our early existence, and we strive to obtain more like-minded people everyday. The xbl10kclub gaming forums are right at 100 users in two months with a total of around 3500 articles. These guys/girls definitely have something to say, and we are here to give them a voice. The people that make up this "club" are what it is all about, for they have begun to make it take shape and form into something great! Arcade races, clan matches, tournaments, contests, statistics, achievement lists, news, reviews, bios, and fun and interactive forums are just some of the accommodations we here at xbl10kclub offer, as well as everything else for your all around Xbox 360 needs.

TriXie: Do you have an arch enemy on Xbox Live, and if so, who?

RODSMACK 10k: I have no one I consider my "arch enemy". If I encounter someone on Live that spams, harasses, or is abusive, I simply block that persons communications. This keeps things from getting to serious or out of hand. Everyone should remember to show some manners when playing on Xbox Live; Those are other peoples moms, dads, and kids that your are offending. Please keep this in mind before you voice your three word vocabulary on Live.

TriXie: What’s your Xbox set-up like?  

RODSMACK 10k: I will leave the brand name out due to the fact it's your competitor. I have two Xbox 360's. My first set up is a 51" widescreen HDTV DLP with a 1000 watt 5.1 Dolby Digital sound system. My second set up is a 27" widescreen HDTV LCD with a 300 watt 5.1 Dolby Digital sound system. With the addition of HD and 5.1 sound, gaming has never looked and sounded so good.

TriXie: What’s the best feature of Xbox Live?

RODSMACK 10k: The Xbox Live Arcade. I don't consider myself a retro gamer, but I do remember playing all of these games when they were stand up coin-op machines. These games are great for when I can't play for a long period of time. We have even started Arcade races at the "club" for some "old-school" fun for the younger and older guys alike. Fast downloads with easy pick up and play controls makes the Xbox Live Arcade one of my favorite features of Xbox Live.

TriXie: What do you think is the best game of all time?

RODSMACK 10k: I would have to say Tecmo Bowl or the Grand Theft Auto Series. I can remember being a kid playing my friend in Tecmo Bowl for 12 hours straight. Grand Theft Auto has done well to set the standard and innovate game play; With its open ended and non linear game play, it offers countless hours of free-roaming fun. If Grand Theft Auto can offer a functioning multi-player online feature, they will dominate their genre.

TriXie: What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever heard on Xbox Live?

RODSMACK 10k: The funniest thing to me on Live, after all the years of playing, would have to be the people who have passed out with their headsets still on while they were snoring. All the snoring....still makes me laugh to this very day. Even though our late night card games with the "club" can be pretty interesting and hilarious at times, people falling asleep and snoring with the headset still on will always stay at the top of my "funny things heard" list. Those people are the best listeners anyone could ever ask for!

TriXie: What is your greatest Xbox Live moment?

RODSMACK 10k: The day my wife activated her own Xbox Live account (just kidding). My greatest moment on Xbox Live was being contacted by Bastelyon from gamerscoreblog.com telling me he wanted to post a blog about the xbl10kclub on his Microsoft employee website. By the way, thanks again Tony. Moments like that and this are what make being part of the Xbox Live community such a great experience. People like yourself and your affiliates: GamerchiX, TGC clans, PMS & H20 clans, KSI, and XUG have shown there is no stronger online gaming community out there. It's the efforts, help, and support of this community that has enabled the xbl10kclub to be so well received. I would like to personally thank you all for being so in touch with your community.

TriXie: Who is your inner rock star?

RODSMACK 10k: Myself, with my bass guitar in hand, playing the song I wrote for my daughters. That has to be the closest I’ve ever felt to being a rock star. I feel when someone loves your music then you're a rock star. All the money and fame in the world could never make me feel like a rock star more than being a father.

TriXie: If they made a movie about your life, who should play you?

RODSMACK 10k: Wife says John Leguizamo … (Rod doesn't laugh). I'm still trying to figure that one out myself. Sure he is clever, funny, and intelligent, but what is his gamerscore?

TriXie: Probably not 10k. What’s your karaoke song?

RODSMACK 10k: I work in a bar, so I’m not even going to touch this question. Just remember next time you have a few drinks and want to grab the mic and sing your favorite song … the bartender is sober...and laughing at you (just kidding). Okay, maybe one time when I had too many drinks I might have sang Vanilla Ice's “Ice-Ice Baby” in a small bar...it was in Michigan … and no one saw … and if you ask me, I’ll deny it. What were we talking about?

TriXie: You busting out your inner Robbie Van Winkle. Speaking of super freaks; what super power would you like to have?

RODSMACK 10k: The power to have an alter-ego! No one can be Superman all the time!

TriXie: If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be?

RODSMACK 10k: My wife, just to give her a day off. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true.

TriXie: What celebrity would be the worst roommate?

RODSMACK 10k: Gilbert Godfrey. His voice ...need I say more?

TriXie: Hot celeb you’d like to be stranded on a desert island with?

RODSMACK 10k: Whoever is the quietest.... just kidding.

TriXie: Methinks you’ve got a night on the sofa coming, my friend. If you could be any video game character, who would it be?

RODSMACK 10k: Tony Hawk. I used to skateboard in the 80's, and let's just say I won't be getting on any skateboard in the near future. One of the things I love most about playing video games is the escape they provide for some one like myself with so many real life responsibilities.

TriXie: What’s the worst food you’ve ever eaten?

RODSMACK 10k: Eggs Benedict, and every time I’ve ever stopped at a late night drive-thru for some quick food to take home late at night (you know which ones I’m talking about).

TriXie: What do you predict will be the 'next big thing' in gaming?

RODSMACK 10k: Motion censored enabled gaming. Any way the industry can make the gamer feel more like a part of the game the better. Sure we all look funny when playing these games, but nothing compares to the immersion level of motion activated controls. It's like my High School coach used to tell me...Be the ball!

TriXie: What do you think is the best thing about the Xbox 360?

RODSMACK 10k: The Xbox Live community. I have met so many interesting and cool people through Xbox Live, some of which have become quite good friends over the years. The addition of multiple voice chat channels is a great feature when catching up with these friends on Live. Hopefully there is some sort of group, clan, club, etc. chat line planned for the future. If not, there is always Texas Hold 'Em for a friendly game of cards and group chat. Being able to voice chat with these people makes it a bit more interactive and personal. The Xbox Live Vision only stands to make the experience stronger, but with the pranksters in our "club", I won’t be answering any picture messages for about a week.

TriXie: I would advise you not to even open them. Scary. What is the Xbox 360 Achievement that was hardest to get?

RODSMACK 10k: I hate to give such a standard answer, but any level of Call of Duty 2 on Veteran has to be the hardest achievement there was for me to get. That game was one of the most fun yet frustrating games I’ve played in a long time. I never did get all the veteran achievements for it, and I still have a copy of it here, taunting me. I can't remember a better launch game for a new console ever. Truly a test of your gaming fortitude: Anyone who has 1000 gamer points for this game is a REAL gamer!

TriXie: What would you like to be doing in ten years?

RODSMACK 10k: I would like for our website (www.xbl10kclub.com) and "club" to be a valued part of the Xbox Live community. With so many great websites and clans/clubs out there it is hard to stand out above the rest. With 10 years to secure our spot in the Xbox Live community there is much work to be done. I would like to see myself in 10 years being as much a part of this community as possible and being a key to its health and growth over the future years. I raise children who game, and though they are not old enough to play online, I would like to be a part of the future development of this community for their sake. Online gaming should be fun and enjoyable, not scary and discouraging. I can see it now … RODSMACK 10k from the xbl10kclub at the next Zero Hour … Trixie: Remember that Gamer Spotlight 10 years ago? RODSMACK 10k: Yup, never got the chance to say thank you. THANK YOU for the Gamer Spotlight.

TriXie: You’re welcome Rod!